Hydraulic machine



y 1937- G. A. JESSOP ET AL 2,087,323

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig! I! u I7 I8 Z4- 2 lNVENTO Rs EORGE A. JESSOP AND G Tome": uonsqm BY Q ATTQRNEYL July 20, 1937. A, JESSQP ET AL 2,087,323

HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1936 a Shets-Sheet 2 GEORGE A- JESSOP AND TORLEIF NORBOM Fig.2

July'20, 1937. e. A. JESSOP ET AL 2,087,323

HYDRAULIIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1.936 3 sheets-sheet 3 I awe/Moi:

qsoese A.JESSO'P Mo TORLEIF NORBOM Patented July 20, 1937 UNlTED STATES HYDRAULIC MACHINE Application September 17, 1936, Serial No. 101,328

Claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic machines, such as hydraulic turbines, pumps and the like, and more particularly to the type of hydraulic machines having runners with movable or adjustable blades. The blades of the runners of the above type of hydraulic machines are formed with trunnions which are rotatably mounted Within the hub of the runner. Mechanism is provided within the runner hub and operatively connected to the trunnions for simultaneously operating the blades to alter the relative positions thereof. The present invention relates more particularly to improvements in the runner blade operating mechanism whereby breakage of the parts thereof in case the blades become jammed or refuse to turn when their mechanism is operated is reduced to a minimum.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding the lower end of the operating rod of the mechanism for operating the blades in the runner hub of an adjustable blade hydraulic machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sump in the bottom of the runner hub of an adjustable blade hydraulic machine for the water which collects in the hub underneath the lubricating oil therein, and in which the structure of the sump is so formed as to provide a lower guide for the blade operating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hydraulic machine of the charac ter mentioned, which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, ar-

, rangement and combination of the several parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-:-

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of an adjustable blade hydraulic turbine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the runner hub; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the turbine is shown connected to an electric generator for the purpose of operating the same, the complete generating unit may comprise a hydraulic turbine H, an electrical generator [2, and a governor mechanism I3. i

As is well known in the art, the governor I3 is adapted to automatically control the operation of the turbine, so that the turbine will operate at a substantially uniform speed, irrespective of the variations of the load.

The turbine ll has a runner which is made with adjustable blades, the angular positions of which are adapted to be varied according to the load, so that the turbine will operate at its highest efficiency at all times.

In mechanisms falling within the scope of the present invention, the operating fluid is generally oil, means being provided for controlling the oil in such a manner that when the governor it operates to adjust the angles of the Wicket gates of the turbine, the runner blades will be caused to rotate in a similar direction so as to effect a corresponding adjustment in the angles or positions thereof. In this way the parts of the tur bine will be simultaneously adjusted so that all of the parts will at all times retain their correct relationship with each other and the turbine will operate with maximum efliciency and smoothness and with minimum vibration.

For the purpose of controlling the actuation of the runner blade operating mechanism, a control device l5 may be employed. This control device may be operatively connected with the governor l3 and function in the manner shown and described in McCormack Patent No. 1,937,772, granted December 5, 1933, for Hydraulic turbine.

The turbine l i may comprise a casing l6 which forms a peripheral Water inlet in which are mounted an annular series of wicket gates H and guide vanes R8.

The wicket gates H are rotatably mounted in the casing l5 and said gates are operatively connected to a gate adjusting ring 59 connected by link means 26 to a shaft 2 of the governor mechanism It, so that the wicket gates ii will be simultaneously rotated into different angular positions to control the flow of water into the turbine.

The lower portion of the turbine casing forms an axially directed chamber 22 in which the runner 23 operates.

As shown in Fig. 2, the runner 23 has a hub 24 which is connected to the lower end of a hollow or tubular shaft 25. The upper end of shaft 25 is connected to the shaft of the generator l2, as shown in Fig. 1.

The portion of the runner hub designated by reference numeral 24 is preferably made of a single hollow casting, the bottom of which is closed by means of a deflector 25. The construction is such that the parts 24 and 2E constitute prising preferably a lever 3i rigidly fixed on the trunnion 28 of each blade and links 32 which connect the levers on the different blades to a cross head 33 fixed to the lower end of an operating rod 3 3 which extends upwardly through the hollow runner shaft 25.

The upper end of the operating rod St is fixed to the piston of a servo motor 35 which is mounted in the runner shaft 25 adjacent to the point where the runner shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator ill (see Fig. 1).

Operation of the servo motor 33 reciprocates the operating rod 3 3 downwardly and upwardly and such movements of the operating rod are transmitted by cross head 83 through the links 32 to the levers 3!, thereby rotating the runner blades 2? in the manner fully described in the McCormack Patent No. 1,937,772 heretofore referred to.

The mechanism within the hub of the runner 23 requires thorough lubrication. Accordingly,

it has been customary to fill the hub of the runner with some suitable lubricating oil.

Since the runner blades 2? are rotatably mounted in the hub of the runner, it is necessary to employ some suitable sealing means around the joints between the runner blades and the hub, so as to prevent escape of the lubricating oil outwardly from the hub, as well as seepage of water into the hub.

Any suitable form. of seal can be employed for sealing the joints between the runner blades and the hub. As shown in Fig. 2, the sealing means may comprise suitable packing 3B which surrounds the outer portions of the trunnions 28. The packing 36 is retained in position by means of a sealing ring 3i which is detachably connected to the bearing 29 by tap bolts 38.

During operation of hydraulic turbines of the above described type it sometimes happens that one of the blades becomes jammed so that the same will not move in response to movements imparted to its operating mechanism. Such jamming of a blade may be caused by a timber or other foreign object in the water becoming caught in the space between two of the blades, or the jamming of the blades may occur from some other cause.

When a blade does become jammed or refuses to operate from some cause, all of the power or forces'exerted on the operating rod Ed by the servo motor 35 will be delivered to one of the links 32. This puts a tremendous bending moment on the lower end of the operating rod 34, with the result that frequently the cross head 33 is injured and sometimes broken.

Therefore, in order to reinforce the lower end of the operating rod 3d and prevent distortion or bending thereof, according to the present invention, a suitable guide means is provided for the cross head 53 and the operating rod 35.

As shown in Fig. 2,' the cross head 33 is formed with a central opening to for the reception of the lower end of the operating rod 34.

The opening 5$ is formed with two diameters so as to form a shoulder ti, and the lower portion of the operating rod is also formed with two diameters so as to provide a shoulder 42 for engaging the shoulder ll.

Threaded onto the reduced lower portion of the operating rod lid, is a nut which retains the cross head 33 firmly on the operating rod.

The cross head 33 is made of skeleton form, with outwardly projecting arms M to which the links 32 are connected as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The lower portion of the main body of the cross head 33 is formed with a downwardly projecting tubular extension 45, and this portion of the cross head surrounds the nut 63.

Fixed in the lower portion of the deflector 26 heretofore referred to, is a member 46.

As shown in Fig. 2 the bottom of the deflector 26 has an opening ll formed therein as has been customary in the construction of the runners of hydraulic turbines of the type herein described.

The member Cid comprises an upper horizontal web d8 which extends transversely across the defiector 26. I

Depending from the central portion of the web 48 is a cylindrical portion ll], the bottom 50 of which is arcuate in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2. This arcuate bottom 59 of the member 46 provides a sump for the bottom of the hub of the runner, and in this sump collects any water which may seep into the hub of the runner past the packings 36. In order that water can be drained from this sump, an opening 5i is formed therein. The opening M is normally closed by means of a suitable valve, diagrammatically indicated at 52.

Within the cylindrical portion 19 of the member 66, there is another cylindrical portion 53 which is supported from the portion 69 by a plurality of webs 5%, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cylindrical portion 53 is open at the top and bottom and the interior thereof is fitted with a bushing 55.

The tubular extension 55 of the cross head 33 is disposed within the cylinder 53 and the bushing 55 constitutes a bearing therefor.

The spaces between the webs 5d constitute openings 58 through which the oil in the hub of the runner can readily fiow into the sump.

During the operation of the blade operating mechanism the rod 34 and cross head 33 are constantly moving upwardly and downwardly. Since the portion d5 of the cross head 33 is in effect a piston mounted in cylinder 53, the oil in the hub is constantly in motion.

When the cross head 33 moves downwardly the oil in the sump 5i! flows upwardly through the openings 55, and in order that no pocket will be formed in the upper portion of the extension 45 of the cross head above the oil in the sump 58, a vent or passage El is formed in the cross head as shown in Fig. 2.

The provision of the tubular extension 45 mounted in the cylinder 53 constitutes a guide for rigidly supporting the lower end of the operating rod 34, thereby providing means within the hub of the runner for taking up any bending forces which might be exerted against the operating rod and cross head due to jamming of the runner blades or other causes. In this way bending of the operating rod 3 or breakage of the cross head will be prevented, and the connection between the operating rod and the cross head is considerably strengthened.

By the provision of the sump 50 which is located at a point considerably below the normal position of the cross head 33, a comparatively large chamber is formed in the bottom of the hub of the runner. This chamber will take care of a substantial amount of water before the water level rises to the level of the guide bushing 55. In this way the portion of the cross head which is mounted in the guide bushing 55 will be lubricated entirely with oil and not with a mixture of oil and water, thereby prolonging the life of these parts of the blade operating mechanism.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:-

1. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in the hub, mechanism within the hub for operating said blades and comprising a cross head and means for reciprocating the same, and a pair of concentrically disposed cylindrical members carried by the lower portion of the hub in spaced relation to the wall thereof, the outer of said cylindrical members having a closed bottom whereby said member constitutes a sump for the lubricating oil in the hub, and the inner cy1indrical member being tubular in form and being adapted to receive the lower portion of said cross head and constitute guiding means therefor.

2. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in the hub, mechanism within the hub for op-- erating said blades and comprising a cross head and means for reciprocating the same, a depending cylindrical portion formed on the cross head, a pair of concentrically disposed spaced apart cylindrical members carried by the lower portion of the hub, the outer of said cylindrical members having a closed bottom whereby said member constitutes a sump for the lubricating oil in the hub, the inner cylindrical member being tubular in form and being adapted to receive the depending cylindrical portion of said cross head and constitute guiding means therefor.

3. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in the hub, mechanism within the hub for operating said blades and comprising a cross head and means for reciprocating the same, 2. depending cylindrical portion formed on the cross head, a pair of concentrically disposed spaced apart cylindrical members disposed in the lower portion of the hub, the outer of said cylindrical members being supported in the hub in spaced relation to the wall thereof, said outer member having a closed bottom whereby said member constitutes a sump for the lubricating oil in the hub, the inner cylindrical member being tubular for receiving the depending cylindrical portion of said cross head and guiding the 1 same, and a plurality of vertical webs connecting the inner and outer cylindrical members for supporting the inner member from the outer member.

, 4. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having a hollow hub filled with lubricating oil, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in the hub, mechanism within the hub for operating said blades and comprising a cross head and means for reciprocating the same, and means within the bottom portion of the hub having the combined function of guiding said cross head and for causing the oil to circulate within the hub during actuation of said blade operating mechanism, comprising a pair of concentrically disposed spaced apart cylindrical members, the outer of said members being supported in the hub in spaced relation to the wall thereof, said outer member having a closed bottom whereby the outer member constitutes a sump for the lubricating oil, the inner cylindrical member being tubular for receiving the lower portion of said cross head to guide the same, a plurality of vertical webs connecting the innerand outer cylindrical members for supporting the inner member from the outer member, the spaces betweenv said webs constituting passages through which oil can flow into and out of the sump during the reciproeating movements of the cross head.

5. In a hydraulic turbine, a runner having a hollow hub filled with lubricating oil, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in the hub, mechanism within the hub for operating said blades and comprising a cross head and means for reciprocating the same, and means within the bottom portion of the hub having the combined function of guiding said cross head and for causing the oil to circulate within the hub during actuation of said blade operating mechanism, comprising a depending cylindrical portion formed on the cross head, a pair of concentrically disposed spaced apart cylindrical members, the outer of said members being supported in the hub in spaced relation to the wall thereof, said outer member having a closed bottom whereby the outer member constitutes a sump for the lubricating oil, the inner cylindrical member being tubular for receiving said depending cylindrical portion of the cross head to: guide the same, a plurality of radial vertical webs connecting the inner and outer cylindrical members for supporting the inner member from the outer member, a vent formed in the cross head and connecting the space within the lower cylindrical portion thereof to the interior of said hub above said pair of cylindrical members, said vent and the spaces between said webs constituting passages through which oil can flow into and out of the sump during reciprocation of said cross head.

GEORGE A. JESSOP. TQRLEIF NORBOM. 

